ore； and I of Dutch pewter。 So if I keep your secret； Master
Tressilian； you may look sweet on me at least； and were I to want
a little backing or countenance； being caught； as you see the
best of us may be； in a sort of peccadillowhy； you owe it me
and so e'en make your chamber serve you and that same bird in
bower besideit's all one to Mike Lambourne。〃
〃Make way； sir；〃 said Tressilian； unable to bridle his
indignation； 〃you have had your fee。〃
〃Um！〃 said Lambourne； giving place； however； while he sulkily
muttered between his teeth； repeating Tressilian's words； 〃Make
wayand you have had your fee； but it matters not； I will spoil
no sport； as I said before。 I am no dog in the mangermind
that。〃
He spoke louder and louder； as Tressilian； by whom he felt
himself overawed； got farther and farther out of hearing。
〃I am no dog in the manger； but I will not carry coals neither
mind that； Master Tressilian； and I will have a peep at this
wench whom you have quartered so commodiously in your old haunted
roomafraid of ghosts； belike； and not too willing to sleep
alone。 If I had done this now in a strange lord's castle； the
word had been； The porter's lodge for the knave！ and； have him
floggedtrundle him downstairs like a turnip！ Ay； but your
virtuous gentlemen take strange privileges over us； who are
downright servants of our senses。 WellI have my Master
Tressilian's head under my belt by this lucky discovery； that is
one thing certain； and I will try to get a sight of this
Lindabrides of his； that is another。〃
CHAPTER XXIX。
Now fare thee well； my masterif true service
Be guerdon'd with hard looks； e'en cut the tow…line；
And let our barks across the pathless flood
Hold different courses THE SHIPWRECK。
Tressilian walked into the outer yard of the Castle scarce
knowing what to think of his late strange and most unexpected
interview with Amy Robsart； and dubious if he had done well；
being entrusted with the delegated authority of her father； to
pass his word so solemnly to leave her to her own guidance for so
many hours。 Yet how could he have denied her requestdependent
as she had too probably rendered herself upon Varney？ Such was
his natural reasoning。 The happiness of her future life might
depend upon his not driving her to extremities； and since no
authority of Tressilian's could extricate her from the power of
Varney； supposing he was to acknowledge Amy to be his wife； what
title had he to destroy the hope of domestic peace； which might
yet remain to her； by setting enmity betwixt them？ Tressilian
resolved； therefore； scrupulously to observe his word pledged to
Amy； both because it had been given； and because； as he still
thought； while he considered and reconsidered that extraordinary
interview； it could not with justice or propriety have been
refused。
In one respect； he had gained much towards securing effectual
protection for this unhappy and still beloved object of his early
affection。 Amy was no longer mewed up in a distant and solitary
retreat under the charge of persons of doubtful reputation。 She
was in the Castle of Kenilworth； within the verge of the Royal
Court for the time； free from all risk of violence； and liable to
be produced before Elizabeth on the first summons。 These were
circumstances which could not but assist greatly the efforts
which he might have occasion to use in her behalf。
While he was thus balancing the advantages and perils which
attended her unexpected presence in Kenilworth； Tressilian was
hastily and anxiously accosted by Wayland； who； after
ejaculating； 〃Thank God； your worship is found at last！〃
proceeded with breathless caution to pour into his ear the
intelligence that the lady had escaped from Cumnor Place。
〃And is at present in this Castle；〃 said Tressilian。 〃I know it；
and I have seen her。 Was it by her own choice she found refuge
in my apartment？〃
〃No；〃 answered Wayland； 〃but I could think of no other way of
safely bestowing her； and was but too happy to find a deputy…
usher who knew where you were quarteredin jolly society truly；
the hall on the one hand； and the kitchen on the other！〃
〃Peace； this is no time for jesting；〃 answered Tressilian
sternly。
〃I wot that but too well；〃 said the artist； 〃for I have felt
these three days as if I had a halter round my neck。 This lady
knows not her own mindshe will have none of your aidcommands
you not to be named to herand is about to put herself into the
hands of my Lord Leicester。 I had never got her safe into your
chamber； had she known the owner of it。〃
〃Is it possible〃〃 said Tressilian。 〃But she may have hopes the
Earl will exert his influence in her favour over his villainous
dependant。〃
〃I know nothing of that；〃 said Wayland； 〃but I believe； if she is
to reconcile herself with either Leicester or Varney； the side of
the Castle of Kenilworth which will be safest for us will be the
outside； from which we can fastest fly away。 It is not my
purpose to abide an instant after delivery of the letter to
Leicester； which waits but your commands to find its way to him。
See； here it isbut noa plague on itI must have left it in
my dog…hole； in the hay…loft yonder； where I am to sleep。〃
〃Death and fury！〃 said Tressilian； transported beyond his usual
patience； 〃thou hast not lost that on which may depend a stake
more important than a thousand such lives as thine？〃
〃Lost it！〃 answered Wayland readily； 〃that were a jest indeed！
No； sir； I have it carefully put up with my night…sack； and some
matters I have occasion to use； I will fetch it in an instant。〃
〃Do so；〃 said Tressilian； 〃be faithful； and thou shalt be well
rewarded。 But if I have reason to suspect thee； a dead dog were
in better case than thou！〃
Wayland bowed； and took his leave with seeming confidence and
alacrity； but； in fact； filled with the utmost dread and
confusion。 The letter was lost； that was certain；
notwithstanding the apology which he had made to appease the
impatient displeasure of Tressilian。 It was lostit might fall
into wrong handsit would then certainly occasion a discovery of
the whole intrigue in which he had been engaged； nor； indeed； did
Wayland see much prospect of its remaining concealed； in any
event。 He felt much hurt； besides； at Tressilian's burst of
impatience。
〃Nay； if I am to be paid in this coin for services where my neck
is concerned； it is time I should look to myself。 Here have I
offended； for aught I know； to the death； the lord of this
stately castle； whose word were as powerful to take away my life
as the breath which speaks it to blow out a farthing candle。 And
all this for a mad lady； and a melancholy gallant； who； on the
loss of a four…nooked bit of paper； has his hand on his poignado；
and swears death and fury！Then there is the Doctor and Varney。
I will save myself from the whole mess of them。 Life is dearer
than gold。 I will fly this instant； though I leave my reward
behind me。〃
These reflections naturally enough occurred to a mind like
Wayland's； who found himself engaged far deeper than he had
expected in a train of mysterious and unintelligible intrigues；
in which the actors seemed hardly to know their own course。 And
yet； to do him justice； his personal fears were； in some degree；
counterbalanced by his compassion for the deserted state of the
lady。
〃I care not a groat for Master Tressilian；〃 he said； 〃I have done
more than bargain by him； and I have brought his errant…damosel
within his reach； so that he may look after her himself。 But I
fear the poor thing is in much danger amongst these stormy
spirits。 I will to her chamber； and tell her the fate which has
befallen her letter； that she may write another if she list。 She
cannot lack a messenger； I trow； where there are so many lackeys
that can carry a letter to their lord。 And I will tell her also
that I leave the Castle； trusting her to God； her own guidance；
and Master Tressilian's care and looking after。 Perhaps she may
remember the ring she offered meit was well earned； I trow； but
she is a lovely creature； andmarry hang the ring！ I will not
bear a base spirit for the matter。 If I fare ill in this world
for my good…nature； I shall have better chance in the next。 So
now for the lady； and then for the road。〃
With the stealthy step and jealous eye of the cat that steals on
her prey； Wayland resumed the way to the Countess's chamber；
sliding along by the side of the courts and passages； alike
observant of all around him； and studious himself to escape
observation。 In this manner he crossed the outward and inward
Castle yard； and the great arched passage； which； running betwixt
the range of kitchen offices and the hall； led to the bottom of
the little winding…stair that gave access to the chambers of
Mervyn's Tower。
The artist congratulated himself on having escaped the various
perils of his journey； and was in the act of ascending by two
steps at once； when he observed that the shadow of a man； thrown
from a door which stood ajar； darkened the opposite wall of the
staircase。 Wayland drew back cautiously； went down to the inner
courtyard； spent about a qua